Dispensing apparatus



Oct. 24, 1950 J. H. GOLDBERG DISPENSING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 2'7, 1945 1 as 7L 0 er JA 9% 7 W44% 1950 J. H. GOLDBERG DISPENSINGAPPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 27, 1945 Oct. 24, 1950 J. H.GCLDBERG DISPENSING APPARATUS.

Filed April 27, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fi i 0590 .Go er M m Figs PatentedOct. 24, 1950 UNITED: STATES PATENT-f},oFFici:

DISPENSING APPARATUS Joseph H. Goldberg, Chicago, Ill., assignor toDrink-O-Matic 00., Chicago, 111., a partnership 4 Q Application April27, 1945, Serial No. 590,649

9 Claims. (01. 225-21) This invention relates to dispensing apparatusfor carbonated beverages and the like embodying a leak-proof measuringvalve and a recirculating pressure purgegarrangement which facilitatesmovement of liquid in the apparatus without introducing air.

Specifically, this invention deals with a measuring valve equipped witha shut-off valve and arranged to actuate the shut-01f valve so that themeasuring valve chamber is empty except for a small time intervalbetween start of the filling operation and end of the dumping operation.

The invention will hereinafter be specifically described as embodied indispensing apparatus for beverage vending machines, but it'should beunderstood that the principles of this invention are broadly applicableto measuring valves and pressure purge systems. g

In beverage vending machines it has been customary to provide measuringvalves with frustoconical plugs'for measuring the amount of flavoringsyrup to be dispensed with each drink. The measuring chambers of theseplugs were in constant communication with the syrup tank and, due to thehead pressure of syrup in the tank, leakage of the valve was alwaysasource of trouble. In attempting to avoid leakage; the conicalplugs-were wedged into -frusto-conical valve chambers by means ofrelatively heavy springs so that the conical plug surfaces would havesealing engagement with the conical chamber walls. V p I i It has alsobeen customary to equip beverage dispensing apparatus with a vent to theatmosphere, to permit dumping of the measuring valve and preventformation of a vapor lock in the apparatus. This vent arrangement hasproven to be quite troublesome'because'the interior of the dispensingapparatus is thereby exposed to air, as Well as germs or dustsurrounding the apparatus. Some beverage syrups, when exposed to air,become, gummy and are subject to a fungus growth which is highlyobjectionable.

The present invention now provides a shutoii valve for the measuringvalve of a dispensing apparatus, so that the measuring valve cha n 1 betis under head pressure of the syrup tank only when it is being filled.The shut-oil valve is opened by the measuring valve whenever themeasuring valve isrotated to'syrup-filling position. The measuring valveis in syrup-filling positiononly for a small, time interval and then themeasuring valve is rotated to dumping position. As soonas themeasuringvalve is rotatedl out of filling position, the shut-off valve is closedand remains closed until the next filling operation. ,Thus, themeasuring valve is only filled with syrup between filling and dumpingoperations and, since it is not subject to the head pressure of thesyrup in the tank except during the filling operation, leakage is not aproblem. The valve plug is made in easy rotatable cylindrieal form andis only subject to light spring loads to insure against leakage. As aresult, operating torque requirements for the valve are materiallydecreased.

The. invention also provides a closed pressure purge arrangeinent-sothat the syrup-receiving chambers of the apparatus are sealed from theatmosphere and still. are not subject to vapor lock. Accord-ingto theinvention, the top portion of the measuring; valve chamber is vented toa dump chamber in such a manner that air can flow between the chambersto assist the discharge of syrupthereirom. Thus, when the measuringchamberis being filled, air from the valvefiows into 1 the dump chamberto assist evacuation of said chamber. -When the measuringrchamber isbeing emptied into the dump chamber, air from the dump chamber flowsback to the top of the measuring chamber to push the syrup into the dumpchamber.

It is; thus, a feature of this invention to provide dispensingapparatuswith a pressure purge arrangement that avoids the necessity foratmospheric vents. r

' An object of the invention is to provide a measuring valve fordispensing apparatus which is only subject to fluid pressure for verysmall time intervals and therefore is less subject to leakage."

Another obj'eeto'f the invention is to provide a measuring valve whichautomatically controls a shut-elf valveso that the measuring valve iscommunication with a="souree of material to be measured 'oiily'when' 'itis being filled with material.

A still further object of the invention is to provide adispensingapparatus for carbonated beverages wherein beverage syrups arein communication with a measuring valve only when this measuring valveis being filled with the syrup.

Another object of the invention is to provide a measuring valve with aspring-pressed shut-oil valve actuated by a cam in the measuring valvewhenever the measuring valve is rotated to and from filling position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a carbonatedbeverage dispensing apparatus with a shut-off attachment for themeasuring valve thereof and a pressure purge system for facilitatingflow of fluid through the apparatus without introducing atmospheric airinto the apparatus.

Other and further objects and features of this invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of the annexed sheets of drawings which, by way of apreferred example only, illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevational view illustrating the dispensingapparatus of this invention together with a cam for actuating theapparatus.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view, on a larger scale, takenalong the line 11-11 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view, wit parts in elevation,taken along the line IIIIII of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view, with parts in frontelevation, taken along the line IV- IV of Figure 2.

Figures 5, 6, and '7 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operationof the pressure purge arrangement of this invention.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figures 1 to 4, the reference numeral I designates generally acarbonated beverage dispensing unit. The unit II) has a casing II withan outturned flange Ila around the back end thereof receiving, in itsrecessed back face, a mounting plate or wall member I2.

The casing II, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3, has upper and lowerchambers I lb and I I0 respectively, connected through a passage II d.The chamber I Ib is defined by a straight cylindrical bore through theupper portion of the casing I I. A beveled mouth I Ie is provided on thefront face of the casing II around the chamber llb. A counterbore II isprovided inwardly from the rear face of the casing to present ashoulder.

A valve plug I3 has a solid head l3'a projecting forwardly from thefront of the casing I I together with an integral cylindrical hollowportion I3b in the cylindrical chamber Ilb provided by the cylindricalbore. A tapered portion l3c is formed between the head I30, and thehollow portion I3b to coact with the tapered mouth I Ie in providing aseal to prevent leakage from the measuring chamber C provided by thehollow portion l3b of the plug valve I3. The portion I3b has a slot I3dtherein adapted to selectively communicate with the passage I Id.

A well I3e is provided in the head portion I3a of the valve I3 toreceive a coil spring I4. A plate I5 is secured on the front face of thecasing II by means of screws I6. This plate I5 has a depression I5a onits inner face receiving a ball I! bottoming the spring I4. This ballpermits free rotation of the spring and plug I3 but holds the springunder compression to urge the sealing faces He and I3c into sealingengagement.

The portion I3b of the valve I3 terminates short of the chamber llb anda valve seat I8 is inserted in the chamber and bottomed on the end ofthe valve portion I3b. This valve seat I8 has an annular seating faceI8a for receiving a rubber or plastic material valve member I9 thereon.This valve member I9 is encased in a metal washer 20 and surrounds astem 2| projecting through both faces of the assembly. One portion ofthe stem is slidably mounted in a bearing I8b provided in the centralportion of the valve seat I8. Ports I80 permit flow of fluid past thevalve seat into the measuring chamber C of the valve plug l3. 7

A spider 22 bottoms the seat ring I8 and has a head portion 22a seatedin the counterbore IIf and bottomed on the shoulder at the end of thiscounterbore. The spider provides a bearing 22b for the stem 2I. A spring23 is bottomed on the spider 22 and acts on the washer 20 of the valveassembly to urge the valve member I 9 against the seat I8a.

The seat ring I8 has a lug 24 threaded therein pivotally supporting apin 25 which overlies the valve stem 2| and is acted on by a cam 26 inthe measuring chamber C.

The spider 22 is held in the chamber Ilb of the casing by the back plateI2. A sealing ring 21 is interposed between the spider and the backplate.

The back plate has a boss portion 12a providing a conduit communicatingwith the spider for flow of beverage syrup from a supply tank (notshown) to the mixing valve whenever the valve I9 is opened by the cam 26causing the pin 25 to force the stem 2! against the pressure of thespring 23 to move the valve I9 away from the seat I811.

The valve head I3a has a yoke member 28 threaded therein and rotatablycarrying a cam roller 29. A link 30 is also pivoted to the yoke 28.

A mounting plate 3|, best shown in Figure l, is secured on the casing IIand rotatably supports a cam 32 which has portions 32a for acting on thecam roller 29 to rotate the plug to filling position together with pins32b for acting on a lever 33 to swing the plug back to the dumpingposition shown in Figure 2. The plug valve I3 is thus oscillated orrocked throughout only a portion of a turn for moving the slot I3d intoand out of registration with the passage Ild and for causing the cam 26carried by the valve to open the shut-off valve I9 so that the measuringchamber C can receive syrup when the slot I3d is closed or out ofregistration with the passage Ild.

The dumping chamber I I0 has a tubular fitting 34 therein providing avalve seat 35 for a valve 36 that is pressed against the seat by meansof a spring 31 in the fitting 34. A stem 38 projects through the seat 35and through a packing 39 in the front portion of the casing I I to beacted on by one end of a lever 40 which is pivoted to the front of thecasing II by means of a pin M and which has the opposite end thereofrotatably carrying a roller 42 acted on by a cam 43 on the front face ofthe plug I3a.

The fitting 34 is held in the central portion of the dump chamber I Icby a flange 34a at one end thereof which snugly engages the wall of thechamber and by a neck portion 34b which seats in a well IIg of thecasing. A seal ring 44 seals the well My from the chamber NC. A secondseal ring 45 backs the flange 34a and receives a fitting 46 thereagainstwith a nose portion 46a projecting into the chamber 340 provided by thefitting 34. This member 46 has a flange snugly s ampoo seating in thechamber Ho and receiving there- 'against a plate 4 seated in a.counterbore- 1.171 in the back wall of the casing 'I'I. v A hollow stem4500f the member 46 projects through this member 41 and through a sealwasher or gasket '48 interposed between the member 41 andthe back wallI2. This back wall '12 has a second boss portion I2b' which is connectedto a source 'of carbonated water (not shown). The carbonated water isfed to the chamber 340 through th hollow stem 45b and hollow nose 46a ofthe member 46. The seal rings 44 and 45 preventleakage of the carbonatedwater into the dump chamber I I; The dump chamber nc has an outlet opening Hi in the bottom of the casing I I near the forward end thereof. Atube 50 is threaded'in the casing to have one end thereof incommunication with thewell II 9 and to have the other end thereofprojecting through the opening Hz and through an externally threadedboss I'Iy' of the casing. A dispensing nozzle is threaded on this bossIIi.

'A valve-support member '52 is-suspended' in the central portion of thenozzle 51 and has an end wall 52a threaded on the lower end of th-e'tube50. Pins 53 are slidably mounted in the end wall 52a andproject into achamber 522) in thememer 52. Apiston plug 54' 'is slidably seated inthis chamber 521). A nose piece 55 closes the lower end of the chamber5217. This nose piece 55' is secured to the member 52 by means of pins55. A vent 5'! is provided in the nose piece 55 so that the piston plug54 canslide in the chamber 52. A spring 58 in the chamber 521) ishotturned on the nose 55 and acts on the piston 54 to urge it againstthe pins 53 for moving the pins outwardly fromth'e end wall 52a.

A valve carriage 59 has a head portion 59a with a bore 591) through thecenter thereof'and a recess 590 in the top face thereof. The bore 59?)receives the tube 59 freely therethrough. The recess 590 receives arubber or plastic material valve head 60 which coacts with the bottom ofthe casing to close the opening I I2.

1 The valve carriage 59 has a hollow skirt portion 59d receiving theupper end of the member 52. Thepins 53 act on the head 59a of thecarriage to urge the carriage upward for carrying the valve 60 againstits seat to close the opening Hi.

The tube 50 dischargesinto the chamber 52b above the piston 54 andoutlet orifices 520 are arranged around the upper end of the member 52to discharge carbonated water into the skirt 59d of the valve carriage59. The syrup from the dumping chamber I I0 will fiow around the valvecarrie 59 to admix with the carbonated water at the-bottom of the skirt59d inthe nozzle 5|.

The valve carrier 59' is actuated toopen position by a cam III on theperiphery of the measur ing valve head I311 as best shown in Figure 4.This cam 6| acts on a roller 62 which is carried by a yoke 63 havingdepending pins 54 extending through a portion of the housing II onopposite sides of the well I I g to act on top of the head 59a of thecarrier around the valve-60. I V

When the dispensing device is at rest, the valves are in the positionshown in Figure 2.

Thus the measuring valve l3 has its wchamber C emptied because the slotI3d is in registration with the passage Nd and the shut-off valve I9 isclosed. The carbonated water valve 35 is like- Wise closed because theroller 421s on the low part of the cam 43. The chamber IIc contains .thesyrup dumped from the measuring chamber .The valve 60 is'closed't'oretain the syrup in this.= dump chamber I I0 because the roller 6215valve :is not subjected to head pressure of syrup in "the syrup tank,and sealing of the valve is quite easy. When the. dispenser is actuatedby the cam 32 the'mixing va'lvel3 is first rocked in one direction tomove the slot I3d out of registration with the passage IId, to cause theearns 43 and BI to open thevalve 35 and 60 thereby emptying syrup fromthe dump chamber IIc into the nozzle 5I around the valve carrier 59 andto eject carbonated water through the orifices 52c into the valve-carrie59 where-itwilladmix with the sheet of syrup draining'rofiz of the valvecarrier 59 in the nozzle 5|. A drink is thus dispensedv I i .5

After the valve I3 has been rotated sufficiently to move the slot I3oZout of registration with the passage I Id so that the measuring chamberC is closed, the cam 26.has been moved to a position for tilting the pin35 to open the valve I9 whereupon syrup will drain into the measuringchamber C from the boss 'I2a through the spider 22 and seatring I8.

Since, in the operation of the device of this invention, liquid mustflow into a measuring chamber, must be dumped from the measuring chamberinto a dump chamber, and must be drained from the dump chamber whenevera drink is being dispensed, vapor lock conditions in the fluid flow pathmust be prevented so that the full measured amount of syrup will bedispensed each-time the-valvefifl is opened. To insure complete purgingsyrup from the dump chamber I I0, as well as complete-filling or themeasuring chamber C withsyrup during the filling operation, thedispenser of this invention is equipped with a pressure purgearrangement composed of a fitting 65 threaded into the top of the casingI.I'-, as best shown in Figure 3. This fitting has a hollow stemproviding apassage 55b adapted to communicate with the measuring chamberC whenever ports I31 or I39 ofv the valve I3 are aligned with thepassageway. The fitting 65 has a chamber 65a communicating with a tube66. This tube 66 is connected at its other end to a Secondfitting 61 andcommunicates with a chamber 61a in this fitting. The fitting 61 has ahollow stem providing a passageway 51b communicating with the dumpchamber I I0.

As'shown in Figure 5, in the at rest position of the dispensingapparatus, the measuring chamber C of the measuring valve I3 is emptysince the ports I are closed as indicated in dotted lines. The dischargeslot I3d of the measuring valve is in communication with the passage Ildand the dump chamber IIc is thus filled with syrup S. The port I3g is inregistration Withthe tube 65.

As shown in Figure 6, when a drink is being dispensed, the slot I3d ofthe measuring valve I3 is "out of'registration with the passage IIdsince the measuring valve has been rotated to filling position andtheshut-off valve has been opened to permit syrup S to flow from the valveports I 80. In this position, the port I31 of the valve I3 is inregistration with the tube 66 at the same time the discharge outlet 1'for the dump chamber He is opened and syrup in this dump chamber isbeing discharged. The incoming syrup from the ports I'Bc of the shutoffvalve the discharge of this syrup out'of the open out let Hi. Y

As shown in Figure 7, when the measuring valve I3 is rotated to dump thesyrup S into the dump chamber Ilc after the beverage has been dispensed,the incoming syrup S fills the chamber I I and displaces air therefromthrough the tube 66 on top of the syrup S in the measuring chamber C,thereby assisting gravity flow of syrup through the slot 13d andpassageway lld into the dump chamber Hc. In this position of the valvethe shut-off valve is closed so that the ports I80 are not incommunication with the syrup tank.

From the above descriptions it will beunderstood that this inventionprovides a dispensing unit wherein a measuring valve is sealed from itssource of supply except during the time it is being filled. Thisarrangement eliminates sealing difiiculties for measuring valves andmakes possible the use of cylindrical plugs which can be operatecl underlow torque conditions. The invention also provides a pressure purgesystem which forces air on top of syrup being dumped and dispensed toaid these operations without introducing additional air into the unit.This prevents bacterial growth in the unit and avoids theheretofore-required atmospheric vents.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A dispensing device comprising a casing having an upper measuringvalve chamber, a lower dump chamber, and a passageway connecting saidchambers, a measuring valve rotatably mounted in said valve chamberhaving a discharge orifice adapted to be selectively registered withsaid passageway to dump a measured quantity of fluid into the dumpingchamber, a shutoii valve for sealing the measuring chamber of saidmeasuring valve from its source of fluid. means actuated by rotation ofsaid measuring valve for opening said shut-oil valve, an outlet valvefor said dump chamber, a fitting in said dump chamber defining a chamberfor fluid to be admixed with the fluid in the dump chamber, a valvecontrolling flow of said last-mentioned fluid from said chamber, anozzle for receiving fluid from the dump'chamber and fluid from saidlast-mentioned chamber, and cams on said measuring valve for actuatingall of said valves.

2 A dispensing apparatus comprising a casing having intercommunicatingupper and lower chambers, a measuring valve rotatably mounted in saidupper chamber having a measuring chamber respectively placed into andout of communication with said lower chamber, a feed inlet to saidmeasuring chamber, a shut-off valve in said inlet, a spring urging saidshut-01f valve to closed position, means for opening said valve, and acam on said measuring valve actuating said means.

3. A dispensing device adapted for admixing measured amounts offlavoring syrup with carbonated water which comprises a casing havingupper and lower compartments, a cylindrical measuring valve rotatablymounted in said upper compartment having a measuring chamber adapted. toselectively communicatewith said lower compartment, a syrup inlet forsaid measuring chamber, a shut-off valve in said inlet, means forclosing said shut-off valve whenever said measuring valve is incommunication with said lower chamber, means for opening said shutoffvalve when said measuring chamber is out of communication with the lowerchamber, and a vent conduit connecting the measuring chamber and thelower chamber for purging air from one of said chambers into the otherof said chambers to assist discharge of syrup from the chambers.

4. A dispensing unit adapted for automatically vending measuredquantities of syrup in admixed relation with carbonated water whichcomprises a casing having intercommunicating upper and lower chambers, aplug valve rotatably mounted in theupper chamber having a measuringchamber therein to dump measured quantities of syrup into the lowerchamber, a syrup inlet for said plug valve chamber, a spring-pressedvalve sealing said inlet, cam means on said measuring valve for openingsaid spring-pressed valve when the measuring chamber is out ofcommunication with the lower chamber, a tubular member extending throughsaid lower chamber having a carbonated-water inlet, a spring-pressedvalve in said tubular member controlling flow of carbonated watertherefrom, a drain valve for said lower chamber controlling flow ofsyrup therefrom, nozzle means for receiving carbonated water and syrupfrom said last-mentioned valve, and cam means on said measuring valvefor actuating the last-mentioned valve. 1

5. In a dispensing unit, a cylindrical rotatable measuring valve havinga measuring chamber with a liquids inlet in the end wall thereof and aliquids outlet in the side wall thereof, a spring pressed valv closingsaid inlet, and a cam means in said measuring chamber for opening saidvalve when said outlet is closed and for allowing said valve to closewhenever said outlet is opened,

6. A dispensing device comprising intercommunicating measuring valve anddump chambers, a measuring valve rotatably mounted in said measuringvalve chamber having a measuring compartment therein with an inlet andan outlet, a spring-pressed valve in said inlet for closing the inlet,said outlet adapted to be selectively placed into and out ofregistration with said dump chamber, and means on said measuring valvefor opening the spring-pressed valve to allow fluid to enter thmeasuring compartment when the outlet for said compartment is out ofregistration with the dump chamber.

'7. A dispensing unit for carbonated beverages and the like whichcomprises a measuring valve having a measuring chamber, a casing havinga dump chamber for receiving measured quantities of syrup from saidmeasuring valve, means for feeding syrup to said measuring valve, ashut-off valve in said means, a cam in said measuring valve for openingsaid shut-off valve whenever the measuring chamber is out ofcommunication with the dump chamber, and a purge tube connecting saiddump chamber and said measuring chambers to flow air between saidchambers to facilitate the discharge of liquid from the chambers.

8. In a dispensing unit, a rockable measuring valve having a measuringchamber therein with an inlet and an outlet, means rockably mountingsaid valve for movement to and from an open outlet dumping position anda; closed outlet filling position, a spring-pressed valve closing saidinlet, and cam means coacting with said spring-pressed valve to open theinlet when the valve outlet is closed and allowing the inlet to closewhenever said outlet is opened whereby said measuring valve onlycontains fluid as it is rocked to valveopening position and before itreaches dumping position.

9. In a dispensing unit, a casing having a measuring valve chamber and adump chamber beneath said measuring valve chamber together with alocalized passageway connecting said 10 chambers, a measuring valverotatably mounted in said measuring chamber and having an outlet adaptedto selectively register with said passageway for discharging fluid intothe dump chamber, and means defining a purge path connecting the upperportion of the valve chamber with the 10 dump chamber to vent airtherebetween for facilitating liquid flow without introducing additionalair.

JOSEPH H. GOLDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED. I

references are of record in the file of this patent:

unrrnn STATES PATENTS Number Name r Date 264,993 Anderson Sept. 26, 18821,402,604 il larvey Jan. 3, 1922 2,148,662 --fl weed u... Feb. 28, 193915 2,413,736 Thompson Jan. 7, 1947

